Bambu, Maker of Rolling Papers, Sues to Blunt Obama Paraphernalia

[WSJ_law_blog]

In what will come as a major buzz kill to Love Fatigues, a New York-based clothing manufacturer of, among other things, Barack Obama t-shirts (an example of which is pictured below, right), Bambu, an iconic brand of rolling papers (pictured, left), is suing the company for trademark infringement.



The complaint begins:

Bambu, one of the World’s 1000 Oldest Companies, opened its doors in 1764. Since that time, Bambu has led the rolling paper industry in standard and style. Bambu and its products have been featured in various movies — most famously in the cult-classic Cheech and Chong and more recently in Totally Baked: A Pot-u-mentary — as well as in television, magazines and in the book Pot Culture: The A-Z Guide to Stoner Language and Life. . . .

The complaint essentially alleges that Love Fatigue’s Barack Obama-related designs rip off Bambu’s trademark. “Significantly,” the complaint goes on, “Defendants are facilitating consumer confusion by describing their shirts as ‘Obambu.’ . . . Moreover, Defendants’ unlawful conduct is likely to subject Bambu to criticism and scorn insofar as Defendants are depicting President-elect Barack Obama smoking marijuana, and such depiction is likely to confuse the consuming public into believing that the offensive advertising emanated from Bambu.”

Click here for the suit, which was filed yesterday in the Southern District of New York.

We caught up with Seamus McGovern, the owner of Love Fatigues. “[I]t’s absolutely not a copyright or trademark infringement,” said McGovern. “I’m an artist. I’ve done a lot of this kind of derivative artwork and I’ve never been denied a copyright.”

Bambu is repped by Pryor Cashman’s Brad Rose, Lisa Buckley and Nicole Kaplan.

First Blood...lol...Bambull****'s corporate cabal have missed this one . i can see Rambo asking "why me" and we all know where it went from there. Bambu would do well to leave this one alone because not only is it about the fusion of art and politics but it is about the future and the hope that this new President elect represents. The Bambuzzled corporate elites are the bambunglers on this one because those of us who know some of the thousands of souls locked away in our own little antimarijuana law gulags know that Obama represents the promise of change and well. maybe some long overdue justice.I can only say to those elitists be careful because like John Rambo who did'nt start the insane and unfair fight but he did finish it and those of us out here who use your product are not happy with your decision...I say work it out or I for one am going to BOYCOTT-BAMBU!!!!

BOYCOTT bambu